Three panel grippable container

ABSTRACT

A plastic, hot-fillable, blow-molded, singleserve container having a four-sided body. Three sides of the container include vacuum relief panels that can flex inwards when fluid in the container cools and contracts. In an embodiment of the invention, the rear panel is a vacuum relief panel that includes a raised island structure on which a label may be applied and supported. The left and right sides of the container also include vacuum relief panels. These left and right side panels can include, for example, ergonomic D-shaped depressions that allow a person to grip the container with one hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention described herein relates to plastic containers, and relates in particular to the shape and structure of such containers.

2. Related Art

As is widely known, it is common for beverages to be sold in plastic containers. Such containers can be single-serving or multi-serving containers. Moreover, certain beverages are commonly placed into the containers when the beverage is still hot. Some manufacturers of fruit juices and teas fill their product when the beverage is approximately 185° F., for example. The bottles are then immediately capped and cooled. The cooling beverage contracts, which creates an internal vacuum. The container design needs to withstand or allow for this internal vacuum ‘take-up’ while maintaining the desired look of the design. Containers that can accommodate a hot liquid product in this manner are known as hot-fillable.

The problem of cooling and contraction is present for any container used in such a hot filled process. Relatively large containers (e.g., 42 ounces or greater) generally pose fewer design concerns than smaller containers when dealing with the contraction problem. For larger containers, the sides are necessarily larger. A larger side panel can flex inward more easily than a smaller panel during cooling. Smaller containers are more problematic. A smaller container (e.g., 16 ounces) necessarily has smaller side panels. Panels for such a container are stiffer and flex less readily than a larger panel.

What is needed, therefore, is a design for a relatively small plastic hot-fillable container, such that the sides of the container can flex inward during the cooling and contraction of the fluid contents.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein is a plastic, hot-fillable, blow-molded, singleserve container having a four-sided body. Three sides of the container include vacuum relief panels that can flex inwards when fluid in the container cools and contracts. In an embodiment of the invention, the rear panel is a vacuum relief panel that includes a raised island structure on which a label may be applied. The left and right sides of the container also include vacuum relief panels. These left and right side panels can include ergonomic structure that allow a person to grip the container with one hand.

Further objectives and advantages of the invention as well as preferred embodiments, will become apparent from consideration of the description, drawings, and examples provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally-similar, and/or structurally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a plastic container showing the front and one side panel, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, from a perspective that shows a side panel and the rear panel of the container.

FIG. 3 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from the side.

FIG. 5 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from the back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so-selected. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention described herein is a plastic, hot-fillable, blow-molded, singleserve container having a four-sided body. Such a container can have a capacity of 16 or 32 ounces, for example, though the invention is not limited to containers having these volumes. Three sides of the container include vacuum relief panels that can flex inwards when fluid in the container cools and contracts. In an embodiment of the invention, the rear panel is a vacuum relief panel that includes a raised island structure on which a label may be applied and supported. The left and right sides of the container also include vacuum relief panels. These left and right side panels can include ergonomic structure that allows a person to grip the container with one hand. In an embodiment of the invention, the ergonomic structure comprises a D-shaped depression on each side panel.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Such a container can be fabricated using polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a similar compound. The illustrated container 100 includes a neck 120. In an embodiment of the invention, neck 120 is essentially cylindrical. At one end of the neck 120 is a finish 110. At the opposite end of the neck 120 is a shoulder 130. Shoulder 130 has a top end 127 and a lower end 133. Adjacent to the lower end 133 of shoulder 130 is a body 140. The front of container 100 is shown as front area 160. The back of container 100 is not visible. Also shown is a base 150, adjacent to the body 140.

FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 from a perspective that shows the side and rear panels. The side panel 210 is configured to serve as a vacuum relief panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the side panel 210 includes a depressed region, or recess, 215. Recess 215 is drawn inwards during the contraction process as the container's liquid cools. In this embodiment, recess 215 is D-shaped. In alternative embodiments of the invention, side panel 210 can have different ergonomic structure. Returning to the illustrated embodiment, a surrounding portion 212 surrounds the recess 215. Surrounding portion 212 is also drawn inward during cooling and contraction. Moreover, surrounding portion 212 flexes inward independently of recess 215.

The corresponding side panel on the opposite side (not shown) is contoured similarly. These recesses on the sides allow a person to grip the bottle easily with one hand.

FIG. 2 also shows a rear vacuum relief panel 218. Rear panel 218 includes a raised island 230, surrounded by a depressed portion 220. The surrounding depressed region 220 flexes inward during cooling and contraction of the liquid.

FIG. 3 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from the front. Front panel 160 is relatively rigid and flexes minimally, if at all, during contraction. While horizontal grooves are shown in front panel 160, illustration of such a configuration is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Other embodiments of the invention may not have such grooves. In an embodiment of the invention, front panel 160 can be used to attach a label.

FIG. 4 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 as viewed from the side. This view shows side vacuum relief panel 210, along with D-shaped recess 215 and surrounding portion 212. This figure also provides a side view of depressed portion 220 and island 230 of rear vacuum relief panel 218.

FIG. 5 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from the back. In addition to limited views of side panels 210, FIG. 5 illustrates rear vacuum relief panel 218, along with island 230 and depressed portion 220.

The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and not limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention maybe modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. A plastic, hot-fillable, blow-molded container having a body comprising: four sides, of which three sides comprise three respective vacuum relief panels that can flex inwards when fluid in the container contracts.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein said three sides having vacuum relief panels comprise a rear side having a rear vacuum relief panel.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein said rear vacuum relief panel can support a label.
 4. The container of claim 2, wherein said rear vacuum relief panel comprises a raised island portion and a recessed area surrounding said island portion.
 5. The container of claim 4, wherein, when fluid in the container contracts, said rear vacuum relief panel flexes and is drawn inward.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein said three sides having vacuum relief panels comprise two side panels having two respective side vacuum relief panels.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein said two side vacuum relief panels are ergonomically shaped to allow a person to grip the container with one hand.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein at least one of said two side vacuum relief panels comprise an ergonomically shaped recess.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein said recess is D-shaped.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein said at least one side vacuum relief panel further comprises a portion that surrounds said D-shaped recess.
 11. The container of claim 10, wherein said D-shaped recess and said surrounding portion flex inward independently of each other when fluid in the container contracts.
 12. The container of claim 1, wherein the plastic material comprises polyethylene terephthelate.
 13. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a neck having a finish at one end; a shoulder having a top end and a lower end, such that the top end of the shoulder is adjacent to the neck at an end of the neck opposite the finish, and the lower end of the shoulder is adjacent to the body; and a base adjacent to the body and located at an end of the body opposite the shoulder. 